National
MoU for production of Goat Pox Vaccine and "Lumpi-ProVac" Vaccine
⇒ An MoU for production of Goat Pox vaccine and “Lumpi-ProVac” vaccine was signed in Nagpur on 29 December 2022 in the presence of Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the Chief Minister and Deputy CM of Maharashtra.
Developed by:
National Centre for Veterinary Type Culture, ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines (ICAR-NRCE), Hisar (Haryana), in collaboration with ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar (UP) developed a homologous live-attenuated LSD vaccine, named Lumpi-ProVacInd.
- Agrinnovate India Limited (AgIn), the commercial arm of DARE, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Govt of India granted “Non-Exclusive Rights” for Commercial production of “Lumpi-ProVac”, to Institute of Veterinary Biological Products, Pune.
Key Points:
- Lumpi-ProVacind is safe in animals and induces LSDV-specific antibody-and cell-mediated immune response, besides providing complete protection against lethal LSDV challenge.
- Lumpi-ProVacind is used for the prophylactic immunization of animals against Lumpy Skin Disease, which illicit protection for about one year.
- A single dose of the vaccine contains 103.5 TCID50 of live-attenuated LSDV (Ranchi strain). The vaccine is stored at 4°C.
- The vaccine must be shipped on ice and must be used within a few hours after reconstitution. The patent has been filed by the ICAR for the technology.
Background:
- The Lumpy Skin Disease has been reported in India from 2019 while first case was reported in the state of Odisha. After that, it has spread to multiple states in the country.
- In 2019, death of a large number of cattle has been reported from different states with high morbidity especially in North-West region of the country. The disease has been controlled and contained with the available Goatpox vaccine in the country.
Chairman & CEO, Railway Board
» Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti has taken over the charge of new Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Railway Board (Ministry of Railways).
- The appointments committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti as Chairman & CEO of Railway Board.
Prior to this, Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti has worked as Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board. Shri Lahoti belongs to Indian Railway Service of Engineers, 1984 batch and has been empanelled in the first panel of Indian Railways Management Service for Level-17.
Command of IAF’s Western Air Command
⇒ Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha assumed command of the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command on 01 January 2023.
The Air Marshal is a graduate of National Defence Academy, Pune and was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot in Jun 1985. In his service career spanning over 37 years, the Air Marshal has tenanted important command and staff appointments. The Air Officer is a recipient of ‘Vishist Seva Medal’ and ‘Ati Vishist Seva Medal.
- Air Marshal Pankaj Mohan Sinha succeeds Air Marshal S Prabhakaran who superannuated on 31 December 2022 after putting in more than 39 years of distinguished service in the IAF.
‘SMART’ program for Ayurveda professionals to boost R&D in Ayurveda
⇒ Two prominent institutions NCISM and CCRAS have launched ‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) program.
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) are the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India for regulating medical education and conducting scientific research respectively.
Aim:
The ‘SMART’ program aims to boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.
The program was launched today by Vaidya Jayant Deopujari, Chairman, NCISM and Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS in the presence of Prof. B. S. Prasad, President of Board of Ayurveda, NCISM and other senior officials.
While highlighting key points of ‘SMART’, Prof. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS said-
The proposed initiative is conceptualised with an objective to identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas including Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
International
President of Brazil
⇒ Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva assumed office as the President of Brazil on 01 January 2023. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the 39th President of Brazil.
- Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as the new president of Brazil – the third time he has held the country’s highest office.
- The veteran left-wing politician, known widely as Lula, also led the country between 2003 and 2010 – and defeated Jair Bolsonaro in October’s poll.
Death
Sri Siddeshwar Swami, the seer of the Jnanayogashrama of Vijayapura, Karnataka
⇒ Sri Siddeshwar Swami, the seer of the Jnanayogashrama of Vijayapura, Karnataka, who was known for his scholarly discourses and powerful oratory passed away on 02 January 2023. He was 81.
- According to Jnanayogashrama, at a very young age of 14, Swamiji got his spiritual calling and soon came under the discipleship of Shri Mallikarjuna Swamiji.
- Swamiji has written several books on Upanishads, Gita, Sharana philosophy and general spirituality. Some of his major works are Siddhanta Shikhamani, Allamaprabhu’s Vachana Nirvachana, Bhagavad Chintana (Reflections of the Divine). He has also written books in English.